The Domestication of Transcendence: How Modern Thinking about God Went WrongWilliam Placher looks at "classical" Christian theology (Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Martin Luther) and contrasts it with the Christian discourse about God that evolved in the seventeenth century. In particular, he deals with the notion of transcendence that gained prominence in this era and its impact on modern theology and modern thinking today. He persuasively argues that useful lessons can be drawn from premodern thinking about God, especially when viewed within the context of contemporary objections to it. This reexamination, according to Placher, has practical and profound implications for modern theology. |
Contents
Aquinas on the Unknowable God | 21 |
Luther the Cross and the Hidden God | 37 |
Calvins Rhetoric of Faith | 52 |
The Domestication of God | 71 |
The Domestication of Grace | 88 |
Nearer Than We Are to Ourselves | 111 |
Common terms and phrases
analogy Antinomian Aquinas Aquinas's argued argument atheism believe Bible biblical Cajetan Calvin's Commentaries Cambridge Catholic cause chapter Christ Christian Christology claim Clarke Concordia contemporary contrast covenant creatures David David Ray Griffin Descartes discussion divine divine grace doctrine evil existence faith Fortress Press freedom God's grace Gospel Heidelberg Disputation hidden Holy Spirit human Ibid idea instance Institutes Jansenists Jaroslav Pelikan Jesus John Calvin Karl Barth knowledge language Leibniz Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence live London Lutheran Martin Luther mean Melanchthon metaphysical miracles modern moral mystery narratives nature Newton Philadelphia Philosophical Pietists postmodern Predestination problems process theology Puritans question radical reason Reformed Religion revelation rhetorical Ricoeur salvation scripture seems self-revelation sense seventeenth century sort story Suárez Summa Theologiae talk Taylor theodicy theologians theology things Thomas thought tion tradition trans transcendence Trinitarian Trinity turn understand University Press univocal Westminster words wrote York